M&D 172

[Paul Murphy]

Brian McCary writes:

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>Anyone have any idea about the emotional state to be invoked by
>F# minor?

My musicology is largely gleaned from liner-notes ... but this might be helpful:
from Wilfrid Mellers' notes to Keith Jarrett's recording of Shostakovich's
24 Preludes and Fugues, op. 87:

"The dominant of 'suffering' B minor, F sharp minor was traditionally
associated with painful or extra-ordinary experience; baroque lutenists
christened it the Goat's Key, because of its intonational problems. Bach
uses it for Peter's agonizing aria of remorse in the St John Passion;
Couperin allots it to his Convalescent."

Cheers,
Paul